When was the last time you threw away your to do list and took some time for yourself? Three local women have teamed up to open a new business designed to help you do exactly that at the Inverurie Day Spa located in the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

Owner Ann Proctor, spa manager Jacqui Washington and Karen Urwin, the manager of business and marketing, opened the doors of the spa last month with the tag line, ?Leave time and life behind and surrender your spirit to the experience.?

With the holiday season over and Islanders set to begin their new year?s resolutions to eat well and exercise regularly, the health benefits of setting some time aside to relax and unwind should not be underestimated.

Together the spa?s team have more than 30 years experience in the beauty industry, having all worked in Bermuda or in the United Kingdom. Beauty therapists and hair stylists will offer everything from holistic treatments such as Indian scalp massage and Thai massage to the more traditional Swedish and deep tissue massage.

The Inverurie also includes a full hair salon and men?s barber shop that offers cuts, colouring and styling.

Mrs. Washington said the goal of the business is to create a ?back to basics? spa where the customer comes first. After polling local clientele to find out more about what they desired from spa services Mrs. Washington said they found is a need for a spa with a personalised approach.

?The theme is that this is all about you as a person and as a client. When you as a customer walk through the door this is your escape. You will be completely spoiled by us and you will have some super, amazing treatments,? said Mrs. Washington. ?There are some really great spas on the Island, but what we wanted to do here is to create a spa that operates on a more personalised scale. We expect challenges ? there is some healthy competition on the Island which is really great for the clients since it helps to keep all of us on our toes.?

The spa is also keen to promote holistic treatments such as facials performed using organic, hand-made products from the Eminence skin care line that is made in Hungary. The spas list of exotic sounding treatments includes the ?Bed of Roses Facial?, ?For Gentlemen Only Executive Facial? and a treatment used in Hungary called the ?Hungarian Back-cial? which removes dead skin on the back using paprika exfoliates. Reflexology, Indian scalp massage and spa treatment packages for travellers who have been flying for long distances are also available.

Bridal packages are also available to brides and will be promoted at the bridal fair which takes place at the hotel on January 23.

Mrs. Washington said businessmen and women are also target customers for the new spa, which is a few minutes walk from several office blocks and insurance companies.

Mrs. Proctor, who is also a well-known local artist and will hang her work at the spa, said the staff have worked to develop a team approach among the beauty therapists and stylists who come from Bermuda, Europe, India, Thailand, and North America.

?We have a wonderful team ? this couldn?t work without them,? she said. ?This is an incentive based team, and a co-operative team, we want the staff to grow with us.?

Exempt companies will also be encouraged to give their employees a day at the spa to help them rejuvenate. Ms Urwin said the spa can fit treatments into the lunch hour for business people in need of a quick fix up.

?We can customise treatments to fit your lunch hour,? said Ms Uruin. ?Whatever it is, if you want a glass of champagne with your treatment you shall have it or if you want your massage by the pool we can arrange that as well.?

The spa is also portable ? a therapist can come to a hotel room for treatments if you are visiting the Island ? a popular trend in North American hotels that run spa on the go services. Some of the unique packages include a day for couples where both of you can indulge in a one hour massage followed by a glass of champagne overlooking Hamilton Harbour, poolside or in a personal tent. The spa then arranges dinner on the balcony of your room.

Having opened just shy of Christmas Eve and with business running briskly ever since, the trio hope their friendly approach will bring a successful year.

?This spa is about the health of the client, for us this is not just a place where you will leave looking good,? said Ms Urwin. ?Attractiveness is happiness ? when people are happy they feel good and they look good. This is a place where you can spend a whole day with us and leave feeling relaxed and happy. We?re a spa which thrives on positive energy and we want you to be a part of that.?